Burbank, Glendale at odds over transit options.

BURBANK - The neighboring cities of Burbank and Glendale are finding themselves at odds over yet another airport-related issue: the best way to bring increased rail service from downtown Los Angeles through Glendale to the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport.

The City of Glendale, led by Councilman Larry Zarian - who also is chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority - wants Burbank to commit to helping fund MTA service, via "alternative rail technology vehicles" (ARTVs). Burbank officials want to expand existing Metrolink service, adding shorter shuttle-train service with more frequent stops.

"Burbank just doesn't have the money (to pay its share for MTA service). Over seven years, maybe we can come up with the money," said Burbank City Councilman Ted McConkey who, together with Burbank Vice Mayor Susan Spanos, is acting as a liaison on the airport rail issue. "In the meantime, it would be absolutely stupid not to take advantage of the service Metrolink is offering."

Zarian countered that "the cities ought to begin to put funds aside" for MTA service and ink an agreement.

"We need to at some point come up with some definite language," said Zarian. "We are at the whim of Metrolink."

Last week, the two cities were hammering out a compromise proposal - expected to come before their city councils either May 7 or 14 - under which they would commit to ARTV but with the MTA paying a bigger share. McConkey said the smaller local match could push back construction of the line from 2003 until the year 2009.

"I'd be willing to look at it, but not without interim (expanded) Metrolink service," said McConkey. "I still believe the Metrolink interim option is the best."

Several years ago, in the words of McConkey, "in the good old days before they had problems at the MTA," the transit authority's predecessor agencies planned an electric light rail train system between Union Station in downtown L.A. and the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport.

But the MTA later determined that this would be too expensive. The MTA's existing 20-year plan calls for ARTVs, which include trains powered by diesel fuel and natural gas.

Matching funds 

The first ARTV plan for a Burbank airport line called for the MTA to pay $64 million and for the four local governments involved - the cities of Burbank, Glendale and Los Angeles and the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority - to pay $45 million.

Concerns about the local matching funds requirement prompted the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, which governs Metrolink, to offer to increase its service to the Burbank Airport, adding two more stations and shorter "shuttle" train service.

Last January, the Burbank City Council decided to support the Metrolink Shuttle alternative, with the option to reconsider ARTV at a later date if information changed.

On March 26, the Glendale City Council voted to support an ARTV system, to be provided by the MTA, complete with nine new stations, including seven in Glendale.

The Glendale council studied a second ARTV option that includes only $10 million in local matching funds. However, the Glendale council voted to support ARTV without choosing either option.

Earlier this month, Burbank staff recommended that the Burbank council support the second ARTV option, with the $10 million match. The staff recommended the alternative now known as 2B because the ARTV vehicles could carry more passengers and make more frequent trips than the Metrolink trains. However, Burbank council members opted to study and negotiate on the issue further.

Under the new compromise proposal, the local match would be between $20 million and $25 million.

"The theory is that the more we put up, the more likely we'll be chosen, because there are competing lines," McConkey explained.

Bill Lundgren, Burbank city transportation administrator, pointed out that even if all the local governments involved opted for the Metrolink Shuttle, the MTA board would still have to approve the decision, since the MTA subsidizes Metrolink. and the MTA board has yet to take up the issue.

Commitment question

The lack of commitment from the MTA makes some Burbank officials reluctant to commit to spending more than $3 million - Burbank's share under alternate 2B, Lundgren said.

"It's really the MTA's decision to provide the funds," said Lundgren. "The Metrolink Shuttle represents the lowest level of MTA subsidy. ... You can imagine being a council person in Burbank, with no word from the MTA, and being expected to come up with $10 million or $20 million."

An Airport Authority spokesman said airport officials' chief concern is that, whatever line is chosen, the route be compatible with the location of the new terminal that is planned on airport-adjacent land now owned by Lockheed Martin Corp.

A major dispute about construction of that new terminal, including how large it will be and when flights will be allowed, is the other issue that is currently dividing Burbank and Glendale officials.

The joint-powers Airport Authority board has not authorized the spending of any money as matching funds to secure an MTA line.